Rebel Wilson claps back over her ‘first plus size’ leading lady gaffe
Rebel Wilson with Priyanka Chopra and Liam Hemsworth on the New York set of Isn't It Romantic in July. Photo: Getty
The controversy over Rebel Wilson’s mistaken claim she is the first plus-sized leading lady in a rom-com is getting bigger.
The Australian comedian, 38, has now blocked critics on Twitter – resulting in the hashtag #RebelWilsonBlockedMe and is facing clap backs from unhappy fellow celebrities.
The brouhaha kicked off last week on The Ellen DeGeneres show, when Wilson talked up her upcoming movie Isn’t It Romantic, due out in the US on Valentine’s Day next year.
“I had such a ball filming that,” said the Pitch Perfect actress, who stars opposite compatriot Liam Hemsworth, 28.
“I’m proud to be the first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy”.
She also made the claim on Instagram.
Viewers and fans hit Twitter to point out to Wilson that her statement was “fake news.”
In 2006, plus-sized stars Queen Latifah (The Last Holiday) and Mo’Nique (Phat Girlz) both anchored rom-coms.
But Wilson didn’t take the point or criticism lightly when it was made on Twitter by a fan.
Mo’Nique was having none of that, taking to Twitter herself to point out to “my sweet sister” Wilson that her claim was wrong and asking her to “know the history.”
Rather than backing off, when playwright Claire Willett wrote a long Twitter thread to Wilson to voice concerns, the actress continued to labour the point.
“Great points honey … will address when promoting the film in proper forums. I’m all about supporting plus size women and I work so hard to do so. I never want to disrespect anyone,” wrote Wilson.
It didn’t appease Willett: “Dear Rebel, I tried. On your own head be it.”
Wilson then had another bite of the cherry, writing again directly to Mo’Nique but still not apologising for her false claim.
“It was never my intention to erase anyone else’s achievements and I adore you and Queen Latifah so so much,” she wrote.
“I support all plus size ladies and everything positive we are doing together.”
What she didn’t support was people on social media who pointed out her mistake. Wilson started blocking them.
https://twitter.com/geekgirldiva/status/1059097733317877760
She last made headlines in July, saying she was planning to take her defamation case to Australia’s High Court after she was ordered to pay back million of dollars to a magazine publisher.
Bauer Media was found to have defamed Wilson in a series of stories which claimed she had lied about her age, real name and childhood.
Last year she was awarded more than $4.7 million in damages after a jury found she missed out on film roles because of the stories.
But in June, the Court of Appeal found “there was no basis in the evidence for making any award of damages for economic loss”, and Wilson was ordered to pay back $4.1 million and 80 per cent of Bauer’s legal costs.